A week had passed since the night of battle at Misty Mountains.

In that time, the world hadn’t slowed at all - not on Earth, and certainly not in the Magik Realm. But for the first time since everything began, there was a fragile sense of direction... a path forward that didn’t rely on guesswork or blind survival.

Rune finally returned. After days of handling the aftermath of Carter Thown’s defeat - securing the underground base, overseeing interrogations, coordinating with the High Lord, and ensuring no remnants of that hidden organization slipped through the cracks - he had stepped back through the portal.

Now, the five of them were gathered in the living room.

Grace sat at the center of it all, looking calm but attentive, while Davian leaned back against the arm of the couch with his arms crossed and eyes narrowed in focus.

Dr. Kian sat beside Grace, resting his elbows on his knees. His expression was thoughtful but tense. Rune stood right behind them, one hand resting lightly against the back of the couch behind her. His posture was relaxed, but his attention sharp.

And then there was 2025.

The system had transformed the entire space into something resembling a command center. Multiple translucent screens floated in the air around them, layered with data, maps, ancient scripts, and reconstructed diagrams pulled from the book Carter had tried to destroy.

A soft hum filled the room as the system processed and displayed information.

"Analysis complete," 2025’s voice echoed, calm and precise. "Beginning summary of findings."

One of the larger screens shifted, revealing a rotating holographic model of Earth, overlaid with glowing points scattered across continents.

"These," Grace murmured, fixing her gaze on the projection.

"Anchor sites," 2025 confirmed.

The system zoomed in slightly, highlighting several regions.

"The Veil protecting Earth is not a singular construct. It is a distributed system, stabilized by multiple anchor points embedded across the planet. These anchors act as both conduits and stabilizers for the Veil’s energy."

Rune’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied the model. "So when one weakens..."

"It creates fractures," 2025 finished. "Localized instability zones where external entities can enter."

Kian let out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair. "That explains the pattern," he muttered. "The breaches aren’t random. They are concentrated."

Davian nodded slightly. "And getting worse."

The screen shifted again. This time, the glowing anchor points flickered. Some appeared dimmer than others, some almost completely faded.

"Over time," 2025 continued, "these anchors have degraded. Environmental damage, geological shifts, and human interference have accelerated their deterioration."

There was a brief pause, before it continued, "Conclusion is that the weakening of the Veil is directly linked to the degradation of these anchor sites."

A heavy silence settled over the room.

Now, they finally understood the problem. And understanding meant responsibility.

Grace leaned back slightly, her expression thoughtful but composed. "So we fix the anchors... and we fix the Veil."

"Correct."

Another screen lit up. This one was more detailed - ancient symbols, runic structures, and energy flow diagrams.

"Each anchor site requires reactivation," 2025 explained. "However, the process is not passive. Activation requires significant external energy input."

Rune crossed his arms now, his gaze sharpening. "How significant?"

There was a brief pause before 2025 replied, "Extreme."

A different screen appeared and this one displayed classifications of monster beasts and their corresponding spirit stone energy levels.

"Based on the data extracted from the ancient text, the energy required to restore a single anchor site exceeds the output of standard Class 10–12 spirit stones."

Kian’s brows furrowed as he asked, "Then what level are we talking about?"

The answer came without hesitation.

"Estimated requirement: Spirit Stones derived from Class 16 to Class 17 entities... or higher."

The room went still.

Rune let out a low whistle under his breath. "That’s not just high," he said. "That’s... not even on the board yet."

Davian’s expression darkened slightly. Because he already knew. "There hasn’t been a single confirmed sighting above Class 12," he said.

"Correct," 2025 confirmed. "However, the growth patterns indicate rapid evolution. At the current rate, Class 16 and above entities are projected to emerge within a few years."

Kian leaned back slightly, exhaling slowly. "So we are not ready now..."

"But we will be," Grace said quietly.

All eyes turned to her.

Her gaze remained fixed on the projection, but there was a quiet certainty in her voice. "We don’t wait for the monsters to get stronger," she continued. "We prepare before they do."

The room fell silent again. But this time, it wasn’t heavy. It was focused.

Davian nodded slowly. "We locate the anchors."

"And secure them," Rune added immediately.

Grace finally looked at the men and as their gazes met, understanding passed between them instantly.

"If those places are what hold the Veil together," Rune continued, "then they are going to become targets eventually."

"Or already are," Kian added.

2025 responded instantly.

"Probability: High."

Another screen lit up, this one mapping potential anchor locations based on historical records, geological anomalies, and energy residue patterns.

Some were marked clearly while most were only estimates.

"Current objective," 2025 stated, "is to identify, locate, and secure all anchor sites before further degradation or hostile occupation occurs."

Grace stood up slowly. Her eyes scanned the projections, taking in the scale of it - the world map, the scattered sites, and the magnitude of what they were about to take on.

"This isn’t just about fighting anymore," she said softly. "It’s about rebuilding."

Rune stepped closer to her, his presence steady and grounding. "Then we start now," he said.

Kian pushed himself off the couch, already rolling his shoulders as if preparing for the next move. "We divide regions," he suggested. "Scout first. Secure next."

Davian nodded. "And gather data from each site before attempting anything."

2025 adjusted the displays in real time, reorganizing information, highlighting priority zones.

"Recommended course of action accepted."

Grace let out a quiet breath.

This was it - not just survival, not just reaction. But a plan, a way forward to actually protecting Earth from further damage.

Her gaze lingered on the glowing anchors scattered across the planet.

Each one was a piece of the world’s protection. Each one a battle waiting to happen.